If you’re here wondering how long does it take for eyelashes to grow back, I’m going to guess that you’re a recent victim of a lash snafu.
I’ve been there, too. Once upon a time, I fell for the instant gratification lure of immediately longer and fuller lashes and got myself cheap eyelash extensions.
Big mistake.
They looked alright when freshly applied but when they came off – they took a bunch of my natural lashes with them.
My eyes looked bare, bald and miserable and I was left desperately asking my friends, the Internet and the beauty salon people, “How long does it take for eyelashes to grow back?!”
The silver lining is that thanks to this unfortunate experience, I became somewhat of an expert on eyelash growth rate issues. So if you’re currently in the unenviable position of trying to grow back lost lashes – here’s everything you need to know.
Do Eyelashes Grow Back?
The first thing you’re probably wondering is whether eyelashes grow back in the first place. I know I was terrified that my lost lashes were gone forever.
Especially since I suspected my lashes had been yanked out when the extensions were removed, I was seriously worried that they’d been permanently removed. So do eyelashes grow back if pulled out?
Rest assured – eyelashes grow back, even if they were pulled or yanked out.
Think of it like when you pluck your eyebrows or wax your legs. You can remove the little hairs, base and all, but they still return, don’t they?
Same with your lashes. So don’t worry, they will grow back.
The only thing is, it’ll take awhile…
How Long Does It Take for Eyelashes to Grow in the First Place?
The short answer? Quite awhile – it can take up to 200 days!
Want a longer, more nuanced answer? You’ll want to know how lashes grow to begin with.
Here’s how it works.
Anagen Phase
Lashes begin their development in the Anagen phase, which is when the growth happens. This period lasts around 45 days (which is why it can seem like your lashes are taking forever to grow) and is the only time in the lash life cycle when they are actively growing longer and thicker.
Fun fact: The reason the best eyelash growth serums work so ridiculously well is that they contain a brilliant ingredient known as prostaglandins that actually lengthens the Anagen phase, allowing each and every eyelash to continue growing ever longer and thicker!
Catagen Phase
Once your lashes complete the Anagen growth phase, they enter a transition phase known as the Catagen phase.
This period lasts around 2 to 3 weeks and during this time, there is no growth. In fact, the hair follicle actually shrinks during this time.
The bad news is that if an eyelash falls out or is pulled out during this phase, it won’t grow back straight away because the hair follicle actually needs to complete this phase before it can move on to the next phase.
Telogen Phase
The next, and last, phase that your lashes go through is the Telogen phase. During this resting period, your eyelashes are basically just chilling and doing their thing. This phase lasts around 100 days at the end of which, the eyelash will fall out and begin the cycle all over again.
If you lost your lashes during this Telogen phase, you’re lucky because this is actually the best time to lose an eyelash. Why? Because the eyelash growth cycle wasn’t interrupted so it can begin anew quickly.
As you can see from this, the eyelash growth cycle is a long one. To make it ever more complicated, your lashes aren’t all in the same cycle. Some are in Anagen while others are in Telogen so it can take awhile to get your lash line back to its former glory.
But that doesn’t mean you need to wait over half a year for your eyelashes to grow back…
So…How Long Does It Take For Eyelashes to Grow Back?!
Now that you know more about your eyelashes than you ever cared to, you just want to know: how long does it take for eyelashes to grow back?!
Well, don’t be discouraged by the long eyelash growth cycle – it’ll only take around 6 to 8 weeks for you to start seeing new eyelashes grow back.
And of course, you can always take action to help your eyelashes grow faster.
The best way to encourage faster eyelash growth is to apply a daily eyelash serum. The best lash growth serums work by extending both the growth phase of your lashes so they grow to longer lengths as well as increasing the number of lashes that sprout.
They’ll help fill in a sparse lash line a lot quicker (and a lot longer and fuller).
Our favorite as of now is GrandeLash MD, which is one of the more affordable lash serums out there that will help your lashes reach levels of length and thickness that you’ve never seen before.
The only downside is that these super effective lash growth serums contain Prostaglandin, which has the unfortunate possible side effect of darkening your irises.
This is fine if you have dark eyes, but if you have light-colored eyes and don’t want to take the risk – you’ll want to go for an eyelash conditioner instead.
Lash conditioners don’t typically produce the same dramatic eyelash growth as prostaglandin-containing serums do, but they definitely help your lashes grow back longer, thicker and healthier.
They also provide heaps of nourishment for your lashes and hair follicle so they stay healthy and can grow to their full potential.
Whichever route you take, rest assured that your lovely lashes will indeed grow back. Sure, it may take awhile but take this opportunity to nourish them like you never did before and before you know it, they’ll be back longer, thicker and fuller than they ever were before!
Omg!! Thank you for this article… it was exactly what i was looking for!
The best and most comprehensive answer to my question. Absolutely AMAZING article!
Can it be any Castro oil or does it have to be especially for eyelashes
Thank you SO much! I have Trichotilliomania (urge to pull out hair) and I was so scared. This article saved me and my looks. I have gotten Therapy and I am completely back to normal.
You’re so very welcome!
My 12 year old daughter suffers from trichotillomania as well. How long did it take you to recover? What kind of therapy did you get? Did you use the eye lash growth serum? Any help is appreciated!
I suffer from trich and found an article on pinterest about trich and taking probiotics supposedly helps. I started and haven’t had a pulling episode in over a week which is great for me.
I’m also a tri and this year I’m going to master not pulling and allowing growth!! Wish you luck
Is there anything you can do for appearance while waiting for lashes to grow back? Can you wear false strips or mascara or would you go bare until they grow back?
Hi Cassidy, thanks for stopping by! Of course, it’d be the healthiest choice to leave your lashes alone and let them breathe while they grow back (apart from regularly giving them nourishment with last growth oils, vitamins and minerals, and/or lash enhancing serums). But if your lashes are really sparse and you can’t stand how bare they look, then falsies are definitely an option. Just make sure you’re picky when it comes to choosing the glue you’ll use – go for one that’s latex- and formaldehyde-free!
Thank you very much. I also have eyelash extensions and yes they pulled almost all my natural eyelashes out☹️ It really affects one’s self esteem, but I am aplying castor and sweet almond oil every night before bed so hope this makes them grow faster
Hi Nadine
I just started this combo myself recently and I’m curious to know what your results have been
Thanks!
CS
Can you still wear makeup (mascara) during the wait as long as you take the mascara/makeup during this growing time? I mean during the 200+ days it will take for the growth period, there obviously be times when you go somewhere like when you need to dress up, and no matter how pretty what you’re wear, people will still be looking at your face! Lol. Lastly, which Castro Oil do you recommend? Thanks.
Thank you SO MUCH
So I just found this and would like to clarify some things.
First, I am a licensed cosmetologist in Maryland. I had training for lash extensions and practiced diligently to put them on safely, correctly, and to look natural.
Second, if you remove the lash extensions without using a remover (that breaks down the adhesive thus allowing the extension to slide right off the lash without damaging a thing) then you will absolutely damage/destroy/or pull out your lashes.
Think of it like this, If you have acrylic nails on, and you rip them off vs. use somethign to soak them off – what does your nail plate look like? Damaged, right? Also ripped & torn edges. The same thing happens (kind of, this is just an analogy) with lashes.
Finally, A GOOD lash extension application shouldn’t feel like anything. At all. You shouldn’t feel them on your lashes, no extra weight, no itching, no burning. Maybe you will feel them touch your eyelid when you open your eyes or feel them blowing in the breeze, but they shouldn’t hurt, annoy you, itch, burn, pull, or in any other way irritate you.
If they do – you had a bad technician.
Thankyou so much, I had Russian lashes applied for my holiday, they looked great at the time but apart from a stubborn few they’re fell out and my natural lashes look very different than before. I was panicking a big bit before I read this. I will never get semi permanent lashes again.
I had individual lashes on they pulled most of mine out I’m so sad now i have been putting oil on them every night will this help them grow back quicker i pray they do
Nice tips and also be sure not to rub your eyes or tug or pull on the extensions because this can cause lash loss and even damage to your natural lashes.
Hi! I am going through the same thing. I got eyelash extensions for the first time and noticed that the extensions were falling out (especially on my left eye) this is when I really saw that I had lost a lot of my own! So now I have one eye that looks horrible! Should I go and have them all removed? I have events to attend and I look like terrible. I can’t believe I got lash extensions in the first place. Ugh!
This is 100% the most informative article on this!!! Thank you for putting my mind at ease! No more lash extensions for me!!
Hi Lauren, thanks for stopping and so glad you found it helpful 🙂
I’m 75, and have worn eyeglasses for 70 years. My eyelashes are TOO LONG, and dirty up my eyeglasses, which I have to clean every half hour.
Is there any device for shortening my eyelashes? Or any clinic in the San Francisco Bay Area that can shorten my eyelashes? You can reach me at (408) 897-0101.
Thanks!
Old Paul
What if your eyelashes were too curly (naturally) and you cute them.. but you cute them too short…. how long will it take it to grow back
I had lost all my eyelashes due to a parasite. Yup. Used Eyelash Serum of Dermalmd on one eye (& not the other). Eyelashes grew back on that eye within a week. Amazing! Brokedown and used on the other eye too! Great Serum! Highly recommend. Use nightly now and eyelashes much thicker.
It’s not the first time I’ve had False lashes. Each time they pull most of them out and made the rest short and stubby. I was at my wits end again. this time I started taking Biotin tablets a month ago and my eyelashes are amazing. Can’t believe how much they’ve grown. Even my husband has noticed the difference
Thank you for pointing out that it will take us 6-8 weeks for new eyelashes to grow. I am thinking of buying a lash-enhancing serum that can help grow my eyelashes longer and thicker. I will make sure I survey around the market to look for one that suits my budget and my needs.